Nex 7 focus peaking - way to keep viewfinder from zooming in?

Im finding when Im out on nature trails taking pictures, a lot of times when I see a bird I want to take a pic of, Im having a hard time getting it in focus cause when I try and manual focus (cant use auto cause theres usually branches real close that get focused on instead of bird) I can't get the pic in time cause the view finder zooms in and by the time I move the zoomed in spot to the bird (if I can even find it with the zoom, the bird is flying away.

"...I can't get the pic in time cause the view finder zooms in and by the time I move the zoomed in spot to the bird..".

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Wondering if you could clarify this a little more?
Reason I ask is because all I use are legacy manual focus lenses on my NEX-7 and don't experience any EVF zooming.
And I'm not an authority on this at all but I wonder if it simply might be some auto focus related menu setting needs to be shut off or something.